The Seven Churches of Revelation – Part 1 Introduction
One of the most troubling observations I have witnessed in our hour of history is this: I don’t know one church leader that does not agree that we are in the end times, however, I can find few that are teaching what the response of the Church should be in the years leading up to the return of Jesus! This is disturbing, because Jesus’ return is REALLY important to Jesus!
The Bible is actually weighted in information about the last 7 years of human history leading up to the return of Jesus. Hundreds of chapters are in the Bible describing what to look for (watch), what and how to pray for people, families, churches, cities, and nations (Pray), and how to get you, your family, and your city READY (Be Ready). Every time Jesus spoke of His return, He warned His disciples to do these three things: Watch, pray, and be ready. Jesus’ return is not a passive event for ANYONE…but Jesus wants His Church ready. To not be ready is to suffer MUCH loss. Jesus said HE is coming LIKE a thief…thieves steal…you suffer loss when the thief comes secretly. Jesus said “be ready…I am intentionally coming like a thief”
Matthew 24:42-51 "So you, too, must keep watch! For you don't know what day your Lord is coming. 43 Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would keep watch and not permit his house to be broken into. 44 You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected. 45 "A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them. 46 If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. 47 I tell you the truth, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns. 48 But what if the servant is evil and thinks, 'My master won't be back for a while,' 49 and he begins beating the other servants, partying, and getting drunk? 50 The master will return unannounced and unexpected, 51 and he will cut the servant to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Maybe you think “I am ready, Tom”…Great! I actually doubt this is true (not to be mean, I don’t consider myself ready yet, either), but lets imagine you ARE ready. According to the Bible, you have an obligation as one saved by Jesus to be talking to others to get THEM ready…not ready to be a “strong Christian,” or die, or get raptured, or some vague notion of “hanging in there,” but rather ready to endure the specific EVENTS of the end times IN VICTORY! How can you teach these if you don’t study them?
Did you know the Book of Revelation is describing the most victorious time the Bride will ever see on earth prior to the return of Jesus?! If the Church REALLY believed this, and REALLY BELIEVED we were living in the last days, it is ALL we would talk about. Do you hear the crickets chirping?….chirp…
The truth is, we have lost this reality that Paul and his friends lived in. It was already starting to slip away when Paul wrote to the church at Thessalonica, which was why, once again, Paul was writing to remind them:
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 Now concerning how and when all this will happen, dear brothers and sisters, we don't really need to write you. 2 For you know quite well that the day of the Lord's return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night. 3 When people are saying, "Everything is peaceful and secure," then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant woman's labor pains begin. And there will be no escape. 4 But you aren't in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and you won't be surprised when the day of the Lord comes like a thief. 5 For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don't belong to darkness and night. 6 So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clear headed. 7 Night is the time when people sleep and drinkers get drunk. 8 But let us who live in the light be clear headed, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation. 9 For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out His anger on us. 10 Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when He returns, we can live with Him forever. 11 So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.
The truth is, understanding Revelation gives VISION to put on restraint, like an Olympian training for victory, to GET READY. If you have no vision, you cast off restraint. This is what Proverbs says:
Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; But happy is he who keeps the law.
Now…think about this proverb for a minute: Jesus didn’t accidentally pick the wording of this verse…and Jesus didn’t accidentally name the Book of Revelation the Revelation of Jesus Christ. This is a DIRECT admonition to KNOW Revelation so that you will be RESTRAINED (focused) and JOYFUL in the time of Revelation unfolding. But you don’t have to go all the way back to Proverbs to see this. Revelation says it, too!
Revelation 1:3-4 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near. 4 John, to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne,
So John delivers a message from Jesus to the “seven churches.” The Book of Revelation is about the time of the end…The seven churches are the end time church. Listen to what Daniel was told about much of the same information John was given. Daniel is the Old Testament Revelation of the end time:
Daniel 12:4 "But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase."
OK, any 40-year-old to 70-year-old like me and my parents knows that WE are the generations that have seen the KNOWLEDGE EXPLOSION of the internet in OUR lifetime. My kids don’t know this…the internet has always been around for them. My grandparents don’t know it, they have never logged on. WE are the ones that Daniel was talking about. It is no coincidence that the 70 years olds were just being born as Israel was re-established as a nation for the first time in 1,800 years. That was a nuclear explosion of prophetic fulfillment. The whole nation that was founded on Jesus was supposed to respond in fasting and praying…but we went in the total opposite direction, choosing materialism and the accomplishments of men instead. That has left us in a very unfortunate position. That has left us thinking Church is about our satisfaction with Jesus, rather than about Jesus’ satisfaction with US! We MUST repent, turn off the tube, and get about our Father’s business. The "thief" we love is at the door:
Revelation 3:19-21 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. 21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
It is on US to know and connect with this stuff. We are living in the hour all of creation has longed to see. We ARE the Church of this hour…and friends, we are mostly in La La land about what is transpiring all around us. This is a life or death thing. For real. It is time to wake up. Now. While there is still time. I believe there is very little time left to get ready. It is time for a cram session, because, by the signs in the earth, the final exam is not just already on the calendar, it is this afternoon and we are still out to lunch with our friends.
Since I have started teaching Revelation, I have found that you get more revelation AS you teach Revelation. Everyone should teach it. You don’t need a microphone or church building to teach Revelation, you’ve got Facebook, your family, family gatherings, lunch with friends…you get the point. Jesus, the greatest preacher of the gospel EVER, mostly taught his 11 best friends and one shady character who was stealing the money. God strategically picked those 12 because He knew who they knew. Read and teach Revelation to those around you.
The truth of the hour we live in is that the TRUE great ones that are emerging don’t care at all if they are famous…they are actually most satisfied in making Jesus the reward for what they do. The old paradigm of people “making a name” for themselves is quickly going out the door. We all hate the fake self centered “ministers” and as trouble increases, they will either repent or be shut out. For real. We all might as well start agreeing with that reality right now. A pure and spotless Bride is all that will stand, that means the great ones will be the HUMBLE ones. Your seminary degree won’t matter, or your law degree…the ones that will lead the Bride to victory will admit that in the family that will live for TRILLIONS of years, we are all just infants. Unless you become like a child, and listen to those who are childlike in their humility and their MAIN and PLAIN understanding of the Bible, you aren't making it through the next 7 years…period:
Mark 9:35-37 And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, "If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all." 36 Then He took a little child and set him in the midst of them. And when He had taken him in His arms, He said to them, 37 "Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me."
Matthew 18:3-5 and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.
Right now, many “theologians” have so complicated the simple word of God, they literally cannot see the forest through the trees. God’s word is given to all men…not just the few that went to Seminary or are friends with those the crowd thinks are powerful. Powerful is of no value in God’s kingdom…submitted to Jesus and the sometimes strange way He does stuff…that is the highest value. I have listened to more “learned men” tell me how I am unqualified to teach revelation than I care to admit, but these theologians clearly don’t know the Bible, or the heart of the one who IS the Word. Being taught by men is not nearly as valuable as being taught by the Spirit of the Word…at home, in your pjs, drinking coffee. Anyone can be a true MDiv in God’s kingdom, it just takes desire:
John 6:45 It is written in the prophets, 'AND THEY SHALL ALL BE TAUGHT BY GOD.' Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me.
Luke 10:21-24 In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, "I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. 22 All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him." 23 Then He turned to His disciples and said privately, "Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see; 24 for I tell you that many prophets and kings have desired to see what you see, and have not seen it, and to hear what you hear, and have not heard it."
If those guys were blessed at the Beginning of the coming of Jesus, how much more blessed are we to see the fullness of the times, and all the promised signs that come with it.
The promised blessing in Revelation 1:3…to teach, which means to read the prophecy to anyone willing to listen to you, and to “do”…make choices to agree with what you understand the main and plain text to command…is what releases great understanding, which then brings you into great joy as everyone else is confused. Joy is what God wants us to walk in, no matter what is happening around us. God wants us to be LIKE Him. He is truth AND joy. If you understand the truth of what is happening, you WILL have great joy. Pretending the truth isn’t true actually STEALS your joy…confusion takes its place.
Revelation is THE MOST POSITIVE book in the Bible. The only trouble is, it is also THE MOST NEGATIVE book in the Bible. It is BOTH. Some teach only the negative stuff…this leaves the hearer AND the teacher growing in the false impression the only solution is for Jesus to remove everyone that loves Him or can hunker down long enough, wipe out the rest, and start over. Nope. Wrong Answer. Confusion will be the fruit of that teaching.
Some teach only the positive stuff. This leaves the hearer AND the teacher growing in the false impression that things will just get better and better until we make it so nice here Jesus just can’t resist us…errggg….Nope…Wrong again. Confusion will be the fruit of that teaching, too.
The TRUTH is the NARROW ROAD. Revelation describes the maturing of righteousness (wheat) and evil (tares). This is super simple. Jesus has never changed His story…why do so many pastors and teachers change it?!
Jesus told this parable so everyone would understand:
Matthew 13:24-30 Another parable He put forth to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; 25 but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. 26 But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. 27 So the servants of the owner came and said to him, 'Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?' 28 He said to them, 'An enemy has done this.' The servants said to him, 'Do you want us then to go and gather them up?' 29 But he said, 'No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, "First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn." ' "
Then, Jesus explained the parable to eliminate ANY confusion:
Matthew 13:36-43 Then Jesus sent the multitude away and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him, saying, "Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field." 37 He answered and said to them: "He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. 39 The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. 40 Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. 41 The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, 42 and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!
The wheat and tares are BOTH maturing at the same time. Can’t you see this all around you? Isn’t this just simply plain? Sin isn’t getting better…murder, theft, sorcery, sexual crimes, human trafficking, war, greed, hunger, homelessness, joblessness, riots….I don’t know about you, but it looks to me like the tares are getting taller…but SO is the wheat! Night and day prayer is blossoming globally. Unity is being released in profound and miraculous ways. The Body of Jesus is taking baby steps out of the church buildings and trying to reconnect with people. Facebook and the internet is teeming with truth about Jesus…and pictures of half naked women and men…wheat and tares. The weeds grow without any help…you gotta cultivate the desired crop. This is so simple, friends.
So, if the wheat and tares maturing is plain to see, we have to say “ok Jesus, what else, specifically, did you mention in this parable?”
1. What was planted by Jesus…the Son of Man…in the gospels, and watered with that first rain in Acts 2, should be maturing…the same crop, later in the season.
So, the question should not be “what did the latest teacher say God wants” it should be “What did those 120 experience?”
Persecution, check; Signs and wonders, check; thousands saved at a time, check; praying night and day in one accord for power to come so they could go out and do the stuff by first abiding (John 15) in Jesus, check…we should be MATURING in the same thing, not changing the game plan to be world domination by infiltration of the seven spheres of culture. This is simple. This was the best moment in the Church until what is coming ahead of us, we should be maturing in all these realities:
Acts 5:12-17 And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon's Porch. 13 Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly. 14 And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, 15 so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. 16 Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed. 17 Then the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with indignation,
2. Satan planted tares IN THE FIELD. There is bad stuff in the harvest field…right next to the wheat. There is false teaching in the Church. Pretending this ain’t true, ain’t helpful. Once you start to see them, you cannot miss them. They are super easy to spot, and they are in many places. This is what you look for: bad fruit. They teach stuff that sounds really spiritual and powerful, but they live self centered lives, a lot of the time their house is out of order, they seem to be concerned about “what is in it for them or “their” ministry, and the fruit of what they teach generally keeps people either 1. Complacent in their slumbering (false grace), or 2. Motivated to help said teacher grow their own ministry. They do signs and wonders. They deliver people from demons. They prophecy. People line up to get prayed for by them…but inside they are all about themselves…
Matthew 7:15-23 "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them. 21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' 23 And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'
3. The truth of the day will expose the tares and the wheat for what they really are. Jesus said the TARES would be removed first. How do you reconcile that with a pre-trib rapture? When did Jesus say he would gather up the wheat and burn the tares? The wheat is here to stay BECAUSE JESUS IS COMING TO STAY. That means you need to be ready to endure the time of the maturity…not so you are ready to die, or ready to get raptured…neither of these need your readiness, but to be ready to bring in the harvest in victory. This requires a certain way of living, and an understanding of Jesus’ Plan…called wisdom!
This is what Daniel was told:
Daniel 12:1-3 "At that time Michael shall stand up, The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; And there shall be a time of trouble, Such as never was since there was a nation, Even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, Everyone who is found written in the book. 2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life, Some to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 Those who are wise shall shine Like the brightness of the firmament, And those who turn many to righteousness Like the stars forever and ever.
Jesus KNEW his church would be off going into these intense events. In order to correct them, He picked out seven churches in John’s day that were representative of what the harvest field would look like at the harvest. What He told them has matured into OUR day. We are supposed to understand the strengths and weakness of these seven Churches and apply them to our own hearts, families, churches, and cities. There is much coming that must be overcome. There is a reward for overcoming. Overcoming what, Tom? The tribulation, silly. What comes after Jesus addressing His beloved, yet spotty, Bride-to-be? The Tribulation that will refine her with fire:
Daniel 12:9-10 And he said, "Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. 10 Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand.
For the next seven installments, we will examine each Church and see what the Spirit is saying to the Bride in our hour:
Revelation 2:7 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God." '
The Bible is actually weighted in information about the last 7 years of human history leading up to the return of Jesus. Hundreds of chapters are in the Bible describing what to look for (watch), what and how to pray for people, families, churches, cities, and nations (Pray), and how to get you, your family, and your city READY (Be Ready). Every time Jesus spoke of His return, He warned His disciples to do these three things: Watch, pray, and be ready. Jesus’ return is not a passive event for ANYONE…but Jesus wants His Church ready. To not be ready is to suffer MUCH loss. Jesus said HE is coming LIKE a thief…thieves steal…you suffer loss when the thief comes secretly. Jesus said “be ready…I am intentionally coming like a thief”
Matthew 24:42-51 "So you, too, must keep watch! For you don't know what day your Lord is coming. 43 Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would keep watch and not permit his house to be broken into. 44 You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected. 45 "A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them. 46 If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. 47 I tell you the truth, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns. 48 But what if the servant is evil and thinks, 'My master won't be back for a while,' 49 and he begins beating the other servants, partying, and getting drunk? 50 The master will return unannounced and unexpected, 51 and he will cut the servant to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Maybe you think “I am ready, Tom”…Great! I actually doubt this is true (not to be mean, I don’t consider myself ready yet, either), but lets imagine you ARE ready. According to the Bible, you have an obligation as one saved by Jesus to be talking to others to get THEM ready…not ready to be a “strong Christian,” or die, or get raptured, or some vague notion of “hanging in there,” but rather ready to endure the specific EVENTS of the end times IN VICTORY! How can you teach these if you don’t study them?
Did you know the Book of Revelation is describing the most victorious time the Bride will ever see on earth prior to the return of Jesus?! If the Church REALLY believed this, and REALLY BELIEVED we were living in the last days, it is ALL we would talk about. Do you hear the crickets chirping?….chirp…
The truth is, we have lost this reality that Paul and his friends lived in. It was already starting to slip away when Paul wrote to the church at Thessalonica, which was why, once again, Paul was writing to remind them:
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 Now concerning how and when all this will happen, dear brothers and sisters, we don't really need to write you. 2 For you know quite well that the day of the Lord's return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night. 3 When people are saying, "Everything is peaceful and secure," then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant woman's labor pains begin. And there will be no escape. 4 But you aren't in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and you won't be surprised when the day of the Lord comes like a thief. 5 For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don't belong to darkness and night. 6 So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clear headed. 7 Night is the time when people sleep and drinkers get drunk. 8 But let us who live in the light be clear headed, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation. 9 For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out His anger on us. 10 Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when He returns, we can live with Him forever. 11 So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.
The truth is, understanding Revelation gives VISION to put on restraint, like an Olympian training for victory, to GET READY. If you have no vision, you cast off restraint. This is what Proverbs says:
Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; But happy is he who keeps the law.
Now…think about this proverb for a minute: Jesus didn’t accidentally pick the wording of this verse…and Jesus didn’t accidentally name the Book of Revelation the Revelation of Jesus Christ. This is a DIRECT admonition to KNOW Revelation so that you will be RESTRAINED (focused) and JOYFUL in the time of Revelation unfolding. But you don’t have to go all the way back to Proverbs to see this. Revelation says it, too!
Revelation 1:3-4 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near. 4 John, to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne,
So John delivers a message from Jesus to the “seven churches.” The Book of Revelation is about the time of the end…The seven churches are the end time church. Listen to what Daniel was told about much of the same information John was given. Daniel is the Old Testament Revelation of the end time:
Daniel 12:4 "But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase."
OK, any 40-year-old to 70-year-old like me and my parents knows that WE are the generations that have seen the KNOWLEDGE EXPLOSION of the internet in OUR lifetime. My kids don’t know this…the internet has always been around for them. My grandparents don’t know it, they have never logged on. WE are the ones that Daniel was talking about. It is no coincidence that the 70 years olds were just being born as Israel was re-established as a nation for the first time in 1,800 years. That was a nuclear explosion of prophetic fulfillment. The whole nation that was founded on Jesus was supposed to respond in fasting and praying…but we went in the total opposite direction, choosing materialism and the accomplishments of men instead. That has left us in a very unfortunate position. That has left us thinking Church is about our satisfaction with Jesus, rather than about Jesus’ satisfaction with US! We MUST repent, turn off the tube, and get about our Father’s business. The "thief" we love is at the door:
Revelation 3:19-21 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. 21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
It is on US to know and connect with this stuff. We are living in the hour all of creation has longed to see. We ARE the Church of this hour…and friends, we are mostly in La La land about what is transpiring all around us. This is a life or death thing. For real. It is time to wake up. Now. While there is still time. I believe there is very little time left to get ready. It is time for a cram session, because, by the signs in the earth, the final exam is not just already on the calendar, it is this afternoon and we are still out to lunch with our friends.
Since I have started teaching Revelation, I have found that you get more revelation AS you teach Revelation. Everyone should teach it. You don’t need a microphone or church building to teach Revelation, you’ve got Facebook, your family, family gatherings, lunch with friends…you get the point. Jesus, the greatest preacher of the gospel EVER, mostly taught his 11 best friends and one shady character who was stealing the money. God strategically picked those 12 because He knew who they knew. Read and teach Revelation to those around you.
The truth of the hour we live in is that the TRUE great ones that are emerging don’t care at all if they are famous…they are actually most satisfied in making Jesus the reward for what they do. The old paradigm of people “making a name” for themselves is quickly going out the door. We all hate the fake self centered “ministers” and as trouble increases, they will either repent or be shut out. For real. We all might as well start agreeing with that reality right now. A pure and spotless Bride is all that will stand, that means the great ones will be the HUMBLE ones. Your seminary degree won’t matter, or your law degree…the ones that will lead the Bride to victory will admit that in the family that will live for TRILLIONS of years, we are all just infants. Unless you become like a child, and listen to those who are childlike in their humility and their MAIN and PLAIN understanding of the Bible, you aren't making it through the next 7 years…period:
Mark 9:35-37 And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, "If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all." 36 Then He took a little child and set him in the midst of them. And when He had taken him in His arms, He said to them, 37 "Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me."
Matthew 18:3-5 and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.
Right now, many “theologians” have so complicated the simple word of God, they literally cannot see the forest through the trees. God’s word is given to all men…not just the few that went to Seminary or are friends with those the crowd thinks are powerful. Powerful is of no value in God’s kingdom…submitted to Jesus and the sometimes strange way He does stuff…that is the highest value. I have listened to more “learned men” tell me how I am unqualified to teach revelation than I care to admit, but these theologians clearly don’t know the Bible, or the heart of the one who IS the Word. Being taught by men is not nearly as valuable as being taught by the Spirit of the Word…at home, in your pjs, drinking coffee. Anyone can be a true MDiv in God’s kingdom, it just takes desire:
John 6:45 It is written in the prophets, 'AND THEY SHALL ALL BE TAUGHT BY GOD.' Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me.
Luke 10:21-24 In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, "I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. 22 All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him." 23 Then He turned to His disciples and said privately, "Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see; 24 for I tell you that many prophets and kings have desired to see what you see, and have not seen it, and to hear what you hear, and have not heard it."
If those guys were blessed at the Beginning of the coming of Jesus, how much more blessed are we to see the fullness of the times, and all the promised signs that come with it.
The promised blessing in Revelation 1:3…to teach, which means to read the prophecy to anyone willing to listen to you, and to “do”…make choices to agree with what you understand the main and plain text to command…is what releases great understanding, which then brings you into great joy as everyone else is confused. Joy is what God wants us to walk in, no matter what is happening around us. God wants us to be LIKE Him. He is truth AND joy. If you understand the truth of what is happening, you WILL have great joy. Pretending the truth isn’t true actually STEALS your joy…confusion takes its place.
Revelation is THE MOST POSITIVE book in the Bible. The only trouble is, it is also THE MOST NEGATIVE book in the Bible. It is BOTH. Some teach only the negative stuff…this leaves the hearer AND the teacher growing in the false impression the only solution is for Jesus to remove everyone that loves Him or can hunker down long enough, wipe out the rest, and start over. Nope. Wrong Answer. Confusion will be the fruit of that teaching.
Some teach only the positive stuff. This leaves the hearer AND the teacher growing in the false impression that things will just get better and better until we make it so nice here Jesus just can’t resist us…errggg….Nope…Wrong again. Confusion will be the fruit of that teaching, too.
The TRUTH is the NARROW ROAD. Revelation describes the maturing of righteousness (wheat) and evil (tares). This is super simple. Jesus has never changed His story…why do so many pastors and teachers change it?!
Jesus told this parable so everyone would understand:
Matthew 13:24-30 Another parable He put forth to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; 25 but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. 26 But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. 27 So the servants of the owner came and said to him, 'Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?' 28 He said to them, 'An enemy has done this.' The servants said to him, 'Do you want us then to go and gather them up?' 29 But he said, 'No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, "First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn." ' "
Then, Jesus explained the parable to eliminate ANY confusion:
Matthew 13:36-43 Then Jesus sent the multitude away and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him, saying, "Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field." 37 He answered and said to them: "He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. 39 The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. 40 Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. 41 The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, 42 and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!
The wheat and tares are BOTH maturing at the same time. Can’t you see this all around you? Isn’t this just simply plain? Sin isn’t getting better…murder, theft, sorcery, sexual crimes, human trafficking, war, greed, hunger, homelessness, joblessness, riots….I don’t know about you, but it looks to me like the tares are getting taller…but SO is the wheat! Night and day prayer is blossoming globally. Unity is being released in profound and miraculous ways. The Body of Jesus is taking baby steps out of the church buildings and trying to reconnect with people. Facebook and the internet is teeming with truth about Jesus…and pictures of half naked women and men…wheat and tares. The weeds grow without any help…you gotta cultivate the desired crop. This is so simple, friends.
So, if the wheat and tares maturing is plain to see, we have to say “ok Jesus, what else, specifically, did you mention in this parable?”
1. What was planted by Jesus…the Son of Man…in the gospels, and watered with that first rain in Acts 2, should be maturing…the same crop, later in the season.
So, the question should not be “what did the latest teacher say God wants” it should be “What did those 120 experience?”
Persecution, check; Signs and wonders, check; thousands saved at a time, check; praying night and day in one accord for power to come so they could go out and do the stuff by first abiding (John 15) in Jesus, check…we should be MATURING in the same thing, not changing the game plan to be world domination by infiltration of the seven spheres of culture. This is simple. This was the best moment in the Church until what is coming ahead of us, we should be maturing in all these realities:
Acts 5:12-17 And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon's Porch. 13 Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly. 14 And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, 15 so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. 16 Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed. 17 Then the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with indignation,
2. Satan planted tares IN THE FIELD. There is bad stuff in the harvest field…right next to the wheat. There is false teaching in the Church. Pretending this ain’t true, ain’t helpful. Once you start to see them, you cannot miss them. They are super easy to spot, and they are in many places. This is what you look for: bad fruit. They teach stuff that sounds really spiritual and powerful, but they live self centered lives, a lot of the time their house is out of order, they seem to be concerned about “what is in it for them or “their” ministry, and the fruit of what they teach generally keeps people either 1. Complacent in their slumbering (false grace), or 2. Motivated to help said teacher grow their own ministry. They do signs and wonders. They deliver people from demons. They prophecy. People line up to get prayed for by them…but inside they are all about themselves…
Matthew 7:15-23 "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them. 21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' 23 And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'
3. The truth of the day will expose the tares and the wheat for what they really are. Jesus said the TARES would be removed first. How do you reconcile that with a pre-trib rapture? When did Jesus say he would gather up the wheat and burn the tares? The wheat is here to stay BECAUSE JESUS IS COMING TO STAY. That means you need to be ready to endure the time of the maturity…not so you are ready to die, or ready to get raptured…neither of these need your readiness, but to be ready to bring in the harvest in victory. This requires a certain way of living, and an understanding of Jesus’ Plan…called wisdom!
This is what Daniel was told:
Daniel 12:1-3 "At that time Michael shall stand up, The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; And there shall be a time of trouble, Such as never was since there was a nation, Even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, Everyone who is found written in the book. 2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life, Some to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 Those who are wise shall shine Like the brightness of the firmament, And those who turn many to righteousness Like the stars forever and ever.
Jesus KNEW his church would be off going into these intense events. In order to correct them, He picked out seven churches in John’s day that were representative of what the harvest field would look like at the harvest. What He told them has matured into OUR day. We are supposed to understand the strengths and weakness of these seven Churches and apply them to our own hearts, families, churches, and cities. There is much coming that must be overcome. There is a reward for overcoming. Overcoming what, Tom? The tribulation, silly. What comes after Jesus addressing His beloved, yet spotty, Bride-to-be? The Tribulation that will refine her with fire:
Daniel 12:9-10 And he said, "Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. 10 Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand.
For the next seven installments, we will examine each Church and see what the Spirit is saying to the Bride in our hour:
Revelation 2:7 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God." '
Comments
Post a Comment
I appreciate your comments.